Chris Churilla(I)
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Chris Churilla is an independent screenwriter, producer, and director living in southern Colorado.
He has had a lifelong appreciation for the arts, starting in his childhood when his mother read bedtime stories to him. An avid reader in his youth, he turned his attention to movies when he became the film critic for his high school newspaper. Soon afterward, he combined his talent for writing with his passion for movies into screenwriting.
However, the 9/11 attacks caused him to set aside his writing and join the United States Army, where he served for 14 years, and the Colorado National Guard for two and a half more. During his time in the National Guard, he used his G.I. Bill to return to school, where he studied journalism at Colorado State University-Pueblo. As part of his journalism studies, he also wrote for the school's paper, The Today, where he received the Damon Runyon scholarship from the Denver Press Club for outstanding storytelling.
He also continued his studies in creative writing, which would soon lead to his introduction to filmmaking. In 2023, he wrote, produced, directed, and co-starred in his first short film, "The Call", despite having no formal training.
This film introduced him to the small but passionate independent filmmaking community in Colorado, and he made his second short film, "The Abyss" in January of 2024, which was later named an official selection of the Colorado Short Circuit Film Festival.
He continues to write and direct short movies and hopes to eventually make a feature film.
He has had a lifelong appreciation for the arts, starting in his childhood when his mother read bedtime stories to him. An avid reader in his youth, he turned his attention to movies when he became the film critic for his high school newspaper. Soon afterward, he combined his talent for writing with his passion for movies into screenwriting.
However, the 9/11 attacks caused him to set aside his writing and join the United States Army, where he served for 14 years, and the Colorado National Guard for two and a half more. During his time in the National Guard, he used his G.I. Bill to return to school, where he studied journalism at Colorado State University-Pueblo. As part of his journalism studies, he also wrote for the school's paper, The Today, where he received the Damon Runyon scholarship from the Denver Press Club for outstanding storytelling.
He also continued his studies in creative writing, which would soon lead to his introduction to filmmaking. In 2023, he wrote, produced, directed, and co-starred in his first short film, "The Call", despite having no formal training.
This film introduced him to the small but passionate independent filmmaking community in Colorado, and he made his second short film, "The Abyss" in January of 2024, which was later named an official selection of the Colorado Short Circuit Film Festival.
He continues to write and direct short movies and hopes to eventually make a feature film.
